6 Best Large Broom Corn Storage Bags For Small Farms That Keep Stalks Dry

You’ve spent the season watching your broom corn stand tall, and now the harvest is in. The stalks are cut, the seeds are threshed, and you have a pile of potential. But the next few weeks are what separate beautiful, functional brooms from a moldy, useless mess.

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Why Proper Broom Corn Curing Bags Are Essential

The real work begins after the harvest. Curing is the slow, patient process of drying broom corn stalks until the fibers are tough, flexible, and ready for crafting. If you rush it or do it improperly, you get brittle stalks that snap or, worse, mildewed stalks that rot from the inside out.

On a small farm, we don’t have dedicated, climate-controlled curing barns. We have a corner of the garage, a dusty spot in the hayloft, or a covered porch. This is where the right bag becomes your most important tool. A good bag protects your harvest from dust, pests, and accidental moisture while allowing critical airflow for drying.

Think of it as an insurance policy on your labor. The bag’s job is to create a manageable micro-environment that keeps the bad stuff out and lets the moisture escape. Without one, you’re leaving the fate of your entire broom corn crop to chance, and that’s a gamble few of us can afford to take.

Agfabric Pro-Grade Woven Polypropylene Bags

These bags are the workhorses of many small farms. Made from the same tough, woven plastic as feed sacks, their primary advantage is breathability. The weave is tight enough to keep out most insects and all dirt, but loose enough to let moisture-laden air escape freely.

This is exactly what you want for the initial curing phase. When stalks are fresh, they release a lot of water vapor. A non-breathable bag would trap this humidity, creating a perfect environment for mold. Agfabric bags let the stalks breathe, which is non-negotiable for the first few weeks of drying.

Just remember their one major tradeoff: they are not waterproof. Rain or even heavy morning dew will go right through them. These bags are strictly for use inside a barn, under a deep porch roof, or in a well-ventilated garage where they are completely protected from the elements.

YardStash XXL Heavy-Duty Tarp Storage Bags

Now we move to the opposite end of the spectrum. The YardStash bags are built for total protection from the elements. Made of thick, waterproof tarp material with sealed seams and robust zippers, they will keep your stalks bone dry in a leaky shed or during transport in a rainstorm.

However, this waterproofing comes at a steep price: zero airflow. Never use these bags for freshly cut, uncured broom corn. Trapping wet stalks inside a waterproof bag is like sealing them in a plastic bag—you’ll have a slimy, moldy disaster in a matter of days.

Their role is for long-term storage of fully cured stalks. Once your broom corn is completely dry and brittle to the touch, you can pack it into a YardStash bag to protect it from ambient humidity, rodents, and dust. This is the bag you use to keep last year’s perfect harvest safe while this year’s crop is curing in a breathable sack.

Harvest Guard Breathable Mesh Curing Sacks

If maximum airflow is your absolute top priority, look no further. These are essentially giant, durable mesh bags, similar to what you’d see onions or firewood sold in. Air can circulate freely from every direction, even through the bottom, making them the fastest and most effective option for drying.

Hanging these from the rafters in a barn with good cross-ventilation is the ideal curing setup for a hobby farmer. The constant air movement wicks moisture away rapidly, dramatically reducing the risk of mold. They are lightweight and easy to handle, even when full.

The downside is a near-total lack of protection. The open mesh won’t stop dust, and a determined mouse will have no trouble getting inside. They also offer no defense against moisture. Use these only in a clean, dry, and pest-controlled indoor space where airflow is the only thing that matters.

Tough-Grid Waterproof Canvas Hauling Bags

Canvas bags offer an interesting middle ground between breathable polypropylene and waterproof tarp. Heavy-duty canvas is naturally water-resistant and incredibly durable. It can shed a light mist or protect against damp ground, but it won’t hold up in a sustained downpour.

The key benefit is that canvas has a small degree of breathability that plastic tarps lack. While it’s not nearly as airy as mesh or woven poly, it won’t completely trap moisture either. This makes it a decent all-purpose choice if you can only have one type of bag.

Consider this your "hauling and short-term" bag. It’s perfect for moving stalks from the field to the barn on a day with threatening skies. You can even use it for curing if your space has excellent ventilation, but you’ll need to check the stalks more frequently for any signs of mildew compared to a mesh bag.

Farm-Tuff Bulk Polypropylene Grain Bag Set

For those with a bigger patch of broom corn, buying individual specialty bags can get expensive. That’s where bulk grain bags, often sold in packs of 10 or 20, become a very practical solution. These are the same woven polypropylene material as the Agfabric bags, offering the same great breathability for curing.

The main advantage here is cost. You can get a whole set of these for the price of one or two heavy-duty specialty bags. This allows you to separate your harvest by size or quality, hanging multiple smaller bags instead of one massive, hard-to-handle one.

Be mindful of the design. Many bulk bags have a simple tie-top or an open top, offering less protection against pests than a zippered bag. Also, double-check the dimensions—you need a bag tall enough to accommodate your longest stalks without bending or breaking them.

Good Ideas Stalk-Saver Tall Garden Bags

You’ve probably seen these pop-up bags used for leaves and garden debris. Their best feature for broom corn is their structure. Many are self-standing, with a rigid hoop at the top and bottom, which makes loading long, awkward stalks by yourself incredibly easy.

These bags are typically made of a lighter-weight woven polyethylene, so they are breathable and suitable for the curing process in a protected area. The convenience of being able to just stand it up and drop stalks in can be a real back-saver.

The tradeoff is durability. They aren’t designed for the weight and pokey nature of a full load of broom corn stalks year after year. The seams can be a weak point, and they may only last you a season or two. Think of this as a convenient, entry-level option for a very small harvest.

Choosing Your Bag: Airflow vs. Waterproofing

This is the fundamental choice you have to make, and there is no single bag that does both things perfectly. Your decision must be based on what stage your broom corn is in. It’s a simple but critical distinction.

• For Curing (Wet Stalks): You must prioritize airflow. Moisture is the enemy. Your stalks need to breathe to dry properly and prevent mold.

  • Best Choice: Harvest Guard Mesh Sacks (if indoors and pest-free).
  • Great Choice: Agfabric Woven Polypropylene Bags (for general-purpose covered storage).
• For Storage (Dry Stalks): You must prioritize waterproofing. Ambient humidity and pests are the enemy. Your cured stalks need to be protected from reabsorbing moisture.
  • Best Choice: YardStash Tarp Bags (for complete environmental protection).
  • Great Choice: Tough-Grid Canvas Bags (for durability and water resistance).

The ideal system for a serious hobbyist involves two types of bags. Use highly breathable mesh or polypropylene bags for the initial 4-6 week curing period in a dry, covered location. Once the stalks are completely dry, transfer them to a fully waterproof tarp or canvas bag for long-term storage, keeping your valuable harvest safe until you’re ready to start tying brooms.

Protecting your broom corn harvest doesn’t require a special barn, just the right bag for the job. By understanding the critical difference between curing and storage, you can ensure the stalks you worked so hard to grow will be ready when you are. Making the right choice here is the final, crucial step that turns a good growing season into a great one.